all-star war goodie

Rating: 6/10 (4 January 2005)

In its original black and white (not the colourised version), 'The Longest Day' is a fine war story, a classy movie with a starry cast featuring the likes of John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Richard Burton, Richard Todd, alongside Richard Beymer, Paul Anka, Tommy Sands and other trendy pretty-boys of the time. The contrast between the featured actors works well.
D-Day, the battle on the beaches of Normandy, has become the stuff of legend, the type of derring-do which makes as good a rattling adventure yarn as it does a warning sign against the mindlessness of warfare. In 'The Longest Day' we see small stories, and big ones. We see Americans, Brits, Germans, and view the conflict and the issues from all sides. There is pathos and humour.
Directed with a sure hand by Ken Annakin and Andrew Marton, this film represents one of the best of its kind. Well written by Romain Gary and James Jones, it makes you think about what really happened during those momentous days of World War II. And for those of us who had family members who were involved in D-Day, this film does its bit towards making us proud of their contribution.